The Outsiders: Imagines And Stuff

Bruises--Ponyboy (Requested by TheOutsidersStayg0ld)

JASMINE'S P.O.V.

"Get out." He hissed in my ear as he threw me down to the ground.

I wiped my face, smearing warm tears that ran down my cheeks. My dad stood above me, emanating the stench of alcohol. He cursed under his breath and called me every nasty name under the sun. I stumbled to get up with my body aching and weak. I inhaled sharply and swallowed a sob. My knees were weak and almost gave out a few times as I ran to the door.

When I reached the door, a plate shattered on the impact on the wall a few inches from my face. A small sharp cut my cheek, but the stinging felt like nothing compared to what I've been through in the past hour. I only looked back at him once, secretly hoping to see the father that I knew before my mom died. I would see the father that would tuck me in at night and make funny faces behind my mom as she scolded me to eat my vegetables. Though, when looked over my shoulder, all I saw was the monster he'd become, raising another plate to throw. I slammed the door and felt the vibration of the shattering plate on the other side.

Running. I was leaning against my front door one second, then found myself running. I huffed out the cold air, for the first time letting a sob escape my lips and create a puff of fog in front of me. I only then began to feel my bare feet splashing as I ran in the puddles from the rain earlier. The night air nipped at my fingers and toes, but I just kept running. I don't know why. It just felt like I needed to. I didn't know where I was going. Just away. My eyes began to water from the cold wind, and when I wiped my watery eyes, I looked back at my hand that now had a thin film of blood covering my fingertips.

I touched my face again as I slowed my pace. I winced as my fingers touched an open cut on my cheek. My face stung from several cuts all over, but this one was the biggest. I huffed out a breath and looked around to find myself at the lot. I cut through here to get home from school and was very familiar with it. I swallowed hard and walked toward a tree I would sit under after school to pass the time so I didn't have to go home.

I sat and looked at the ground, my fingers pulling up shards of grass. I swallowed hard, trying my hardest not to cry. But with the pain I was in, physically, and mentally, I just didn't have the strength to hold back my tears. I held my head in my hands and squeezed my eyes shut. I don't know how long I stayed like that, but I snapped out of it when I heard footsteps approach.

I don't know who I expected it was, but out of instinct, my head shot up and I scooted back, towards the tree. I couldn't quite see who it was in the darkness until he spoke up. "I-I didn't mean to scare you, Jasmine." I squinted and furrowed my eyebrows, still scooting back and still not being able to see who it was. "It's okay, it's me, Ponyboy."

I hastily wiped my face and sniffed. "Pony?" I croaked.

He squatted down a few feet in front of me and the moon illuminated his face. "I heard you crying, came to see if you were okay."

"I'm fine Pony. You can go home." I pulled the neck of my shirt up to wipe my face again.

To my surprise, he sat down, scooting closer to me. He looked me up and down for a while. I didn't know what he was staring at until I looked at myself. My shirt had spots of blood and was riddled with holes and slashes. My face was cut up and my arms were bruised. "I got in a fight." I mumbled.

"With a professional wrestler?"

I chuckled sadly and looked away from his all-seeing, all-knowing green eyes. Pony and I had been friends for a while. But I had never told anyone about my situation at home. I was embarrassed, and I liked Pony, maybe even a little more than liked. I never wanted him, or anyone to know. He got on his knees and waddled over next to me, plopping down and leaning up against the tree how I was. "Pony seriously, go home. I'm fine here."

"You're not fine, obviously. Who did this to you?"

I didn't answer. Half because I didn't want him to know, and half because I think he already knew.

"It doesn't matter." I finally managed to get out.

"That's where you're wrong Jas, it does matter." He looked at me with a concerned frown.

I sighed and looked down at my fingers. "I'm sorry about your mom." He blurted.

"What?"

"I-I just don't think I've ever said it... I know how it feels to lose your parents."

"I still have my dad," I mumbled.

"No, you don't." I turned my head to him, questioning him with my eyes. "Your dad died when your mom did, didn't he? That's not your dad back there. Is it?" I clenched my teeth. "He did this to you... Didn't he." He said more as a statement than a question.

I kept my eyes down, averting what I thought would be a look of judgment. He touched my chin, leading my eyes to his. "Hey," I sucked in a breath and looked at his amazingly gorgeous face. "You don't deserve to be treated like that."

I didn't realize how close our faces had gotten, but in the moment, I took advantage of it. He both leaned closer to each other, and when our lips touched, for the first time in a long time I felt safe. I wanted to feel like that forever. I wanted to kiss him forever. His hand gently caressed my face, then brushed my hair behind my ear.

Reluctantly, the kiss ended, and we pulled away. He smiled and a grin played on my lips. He stood and put out his hand for me to take. He pulled me up and wrapped his arm around me tightly, making me feel safe again. "You never have to go back if ya don't want." We began to walk. "Let's go back to my place, Jasmine."

The night looked different as I walked out of the lot with Pony. The night felt brighter, safer, and felt hopeful. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like the morning to come would be better.